"All Of Us...Lived Among Them...But God"

"All of us also lived among them at one time...."  (Ephesians 2:3a, NIV)

We did.

The Holy Spirit is reminding us in previous verses from what we came, "you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world...."  But now what? 

I pray none reading this are still, "liv[ing] among them...."  Of course, as Paul told the Corinthians, this does not mean that we avoid living around the nonbelievers, "....in that case you would have to leave the world."  The call of the Holy Spirit today is also found in the prayer of Jesus, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one."  And you and I know that this same, "evil one...walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."  The Biblical reminder is a constant.

Later verses of Ephesians 2, however, tell us of the surpassing victory we have in Jesus Christ, "God...raised us up together with Christ.., in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace...in Christ Jesus."  And indeed it was only Jesus', "incomparable... grace," which brought you and me into His Heavenly Kingdom, "the Household of Faith," names written in, "the Lamb's Book of Life," to abide in the Godhead in the, "many mansions," for eternity. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, "keep (me) from the evil one," to no longer, "live[] among them."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"I Am Too Destressed Even To Pray"

"You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak."  The NLT says, " You don't let me sleep.  I am too distressed even to pray!" (Psalm 77:4)

I am still working on the, "whirlwind," Word, but today I thought I would give you a break.

Our text was a written-on-my-heart passage 48 years ago.  Maybe there have been times, even now perhaps, when this describes you.  "Extreme anxiety, sorrow or pain," is how the dictionary defines distress.  There are few, if any at all, in the global population who have not experienced this.  If you are not "there," I am not attempting to take you "back there."  I am, however, assuring you again of the wonderful promises of our, "Word of God," Jesus Christ Himself.

I call upon you to do what the psalmist did in succeeding verses.  "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago.  They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works" (vv. 11, 12).  We can always begin with the, "wonderful deeds," of our New Birth, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, which enabled us to, "see the Kingdom of God...," and in the waters of Baptism we then, "enter[ed] the Kingdom of God" (John 3).  And we can all add "individual" testimonies of just how "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" over our lifetime.

Some "seasons" can seem like the psalmist's experience in 77:7, "Will He never again be kind to me?  Is His unfailing love gone forever?"  But we know, do we not, that the answer to this forlorn question is a resounding, NO!  Praise the Living Triune God today.  Affirm His, "exceedingly great and precious promises," or as the song writer wrote, "Count your many blessings, see what God hath done."

Father, in Jesus' Name, it is too easy for me to count my "defeats."  I thank You for always telling me to "count" my blessings.  Amen>

*****************

Please pray with me that I will get the schedule for the Supreme Court nominee hearings in time to reserve a place in DC.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Enough," Saith The Lord

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord."  (Joel 2:31, NIV)

"The Lord spoke to Job out of the whirlwind," implies to me that the Lord God was putting an end to the longest running debate/speculation in the Bible.  Could it be that through the Lord Jesus, Word of the Father, the Godhead was/is saying to not only Job and the other four "theologians," but also the entirety of humanity, "Enough!  You do not know of what you speak."

Our text which I read yesterday tells the human race that its life style, its rejection of the Reign of Jesus Christ is coming to an end.  The final hours of this age will be marked by what our Lord Jesus tells us, "Immediately after the distress of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'"  There is, however, with most on Planet Earth, and even in many church-goers, the attitude, "Yeah, yeah, yeah-- heard it over and over."

And we will hear it over and over, "until that Day."  And, you and I are waiting for what Joel later says, and Peter said on the Day of Pentecost, "And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord [Jesus] will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord [Jesus] calls."  I pray that you and I are of, "the survivors." 

"Even so, Come, Lord Jesus."  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Whirlwind"-- Tempestuous Noise?

"Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the Whirlwind...."  (job 38:1)

Some believe that the Words of, "The Word of God," our Lord Jesus Christ, which came to Job, "out of the whirlwind," was "loud"---  to get Job's and his friends' attention?  I don't know.

I can tell you, though, that I sense more and more a storm in the heavenlies, and it is not of Satan's choosing.  It is a tempestuous storm of Jesus' choosing.  This is beyond the American political scene, beyond global strife.  The storm is shaking the totality of the affairs of men and nations.  This, "whirlwind," is in a similar light as Hebrews 12, "At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, 'Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.'"  Pray with me for more "understanding" of this "word."  I ask for conformation, and/or correction. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, again I pray for all the understanding which You know I need to navigate these days.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

PROPHETIC WORD FOR AMERICA-- AND THE NATIONS

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind." (Job 38:1)

Yesterday in our church service the pastor asked me to share a sort of update on what I have been doing.  The first words out of my mouth were: "The Bible tells us that the Lord spoke to Job, 'out of the whirlwind.'"  It took me totally by surprise.  I then went on to say that this is what is currently going on in the nations of the Earth.  I have not been able to "get away," however, from those first words.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they were the classic definition of "prophetic."  I simply cannot remember the last time that happened to me, maybe too long.

One of my Psalms reading this morning was Psalm 68, "....You marched through the wilderness, the earth shook...."  This is now going on in, "heavenly places," and perhaps is best described as, "whirlwind."  Someone has said of this Word used in Job 38:1, "out of a dark and thick cloud, from which He sent a terrible and tempestuous wind, as the harbinger of His presence."  Could the Lord Jesus have appeared to Job as He did to the Hebrews from Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19:16-19)?  Is He "preparing to appear" to the United States of America in the same way?  But I can tell you today that whatever this "word" was to me, there is a storm gathering over the nations, particularly the United States of America.  It is "a terrible and tempestuous wind." 

Of course since yesterday, I looked up the Word for, "whirlwind," in our text.  First of all, in the Hebrew it is in the masculine gender, and the root Word has the idea of, "strife, contentions, dispute."  I am not going to say more.  Perhaps you may have something to add.  But I can tell you that this has heightened my commitment to be in DC during the Kavanaugh hearings this Fall.  I will keep you up to date.  Please pray.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, give me the understanding in this which You have for me, for Your Church, for the nations.  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2